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Desiderata

Desiderata was written by a relatively unknown American author, Max Ehrmann, in 1927. Later, in 1959, Reverend Frederick Kates of Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore, included Desiderata in a sermon for his congregation, which eventually spread and became a big hit.
Desiderata contains many pearls of wisdom for living a peaceful and joyous existence upon this planet. In it, the unknown author details a perspective for “keeping peace with your soul” while navigating your way through a challenging world. All useful information.

The popular 1970’s song, written by Wes Crane, is included in the link below. I realize, being from the 70’s, that this music is dated and a little bit cheesy, but I couldn’t resist. It still has a good and powerful vibe, and besides, it’s only a matter of time before it’s back in style again! Here’s to being a happy and fulfilled child of the Universe!

My grandmother introduced this beautiful poem to me back in the early 70’s I remember where we were when she bought a plaque with Desiderata… I had it in my possession hanging on my wall for years, until a couple years ago, when someone stole many of my things… I love it, It touches the deepest part of my soul… It still is a beautiful world…

Here is a good site that clears up the confusion surrounding the 1692 date of Desiderata. It also addresses the change in the words, “careful” to “cheerful” at the end of the writing.http://www.fleurdelis.com/desidera.htm

This is beautiful. I think it was around 1972 or so after my boyfriend an American Indian that served in Viet Nam in 1965,66,67 only to get shot & killed by a neighbor in 1971 that I was given this poem and Children Learn what they Live & I put in his casket the book The Profit by Kahil Gibran. I have his daughter and a son and grandchildren, and I want to share it with the world. Thank you! 🙂
Peace & Love,

I woke up morose and down today; and I did not want to talk to any one. I wanted some kind of a voice to talk to my feelings and make me feel better. I eventually remembered the poem, ‘Desiderata’. I searched it and found it on this site. What a wonderful poem to read or even listen to in a song form. I am now going to bed this evening with a good feeling knowing that “I am a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. I have a right to be here.” What a soothing, beautiful, and humble piece of the arts.

This poem was introduce to me while at High School at St Paul that it has a great meaning for me it motivated me very muchl.I went to tertiary because of this poem even today the meaning it has is still exitsl. Its so great I wish evrybody in the world reads it.THIS WORLD WILL BE A BETTER PLACE.

Still a beautiful piece of wisdom after all these years. I first read Desiderata in a music book while I was learning the guitar back in 1976. With the aid of Google I have found how the mistake was made when the original reading mentioned “found in a church in Baltimore.”
Peace and love to this troubled world.